Splawn players, cab question

[SwampDonkey]

I just picked up a Nitro and like it enough to want to try it with a Splawn cab.

Has anyone compared the Small Block speakers to the Big Block speakers with a Nitro Kt88?

What are the tonal differences between them?

Would an X pattern mix of the 2 be a good choice?

Thanks for any help!
Brian

 

[glpg80]

small blocks are G12M copies, big blocks are H30's.

scott tuned them to his own preferences based off of these speakers.

i have played a splawn small block and IMHO its very modern sounding, nothing like the 65's i owned which had that classic marshall growl attitude. they do retain the attitude of the speakers inspired by them but the rolloffs on the top end are much better and the mids are shifted lower - more modern metal sounding. great for rhythm work.

as i have described them before, the celestion EVH speakers in the 5150 III cabinets are G12M copies as well, and i would recommend those speakers for soloist guys who enjoy solo tones. for rhythm playing and in your face low end solidity i recommend scott's small blocks.

small blocks are my favorite. the nitro is based off of a 5150 and is 4 gain stages instead of 6. IMHO i would recommend the small blocks. all i can say is that on the 7th day god created the 5150/small block setup, and all was well

 

[SwampDonkey]

Thanks for the reply, that helps a ton!

I think I am going to order a small block cab dressed in white, and a white Plexi style headshell with black piping for the Nitro!

 

[Vrad]

I'm not sure how the Big Blocks are, but I have a Splawn loaded 4x12 with Small Block 25's and a Mojotone 4x12 loaded with Reissue GB's. I can tell you they're considerably different. The SB25s are tighter, and meaner sounding the GB's. The GB's have more sizzle, while the SB25's have a slightly rolled off top-end. That's not to say they're dark, because they're not. They're an absolute ideal match with my Quickrod. They sound a too modern with my Budda and Marshall. I'm still undecided about them with my 6505+.
Anyway, if you're getting a Splawn, I can't recommend the SB25's enough.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Nice! Thanks for the review! I think I am settled on the Small Block cab for my first one. Might get a BB loaded cab down the road just to mix things up.

Now it's time to put my ENGL Pro up for sale!

 

[glpg80]

I'm not sure how the Big Blocks are, but I have a Splawn loaded 4x12 with Small Block 25's and a Mojotone 4x12 loaded with Reissue GB's. I can tell you they're considerably different. The SB25s are tighter, and meaner sounding the GB's. The GB's have more sizzle, while the SB25's have a slightly rolled off top-end. That's not to say they're dark, because they're not. They're an absolute ideal match with my Quickrod. They sound a too modern with my Budda and Marshall. I'm still undecided about them with my 6505+.
Anyway, if you're getting a Splawn, I can't recommend the SB25's enough.

definately meaner sounding for sure - meaner and more modern sounding compared to celestions.

 

[Chris6870]

I have small blocks in both my cabs. I have them mixed with Governors that give it a little more highs for those screaming leads. After running this combo I went to all small blocks and found the highs lacking a little,and went back. This is with a Quick Rod, not a nitro.but it depends on the amp of course. I never tried the Big blocks but they don't seem to be all that popular over on the Splawn forum with guys that have tried them.

I will add that I ran a Mesa 2x12 with V30's for a short time and it sounded like utter crap.

 

[SwampDonkey]

My ENGL cab has V30's and while it doesn't sound like shit really, it's certainly not ideal. I like the sound with my ported Genz cabinet far better. Never tried Governors, might have to see what that's all about.

 

[Anonymous]

My favorite speakers with the quick rod are Scumback M75's mixed with ASW KTS-70's in a 4x12. A really Nice combo IMO.
Another nice combo is EMI Governors with EMI Tonespotters in a 4x12. I really like EV12L Classics in a 2x12 with the QR too...

 

[Les Zombie]

I was using a splawn cab with k100/mesa v30 and it sounded pretty good with that combo, but right before i sold the nitro i switched over to my uberkab with gt75/v30 and i noticed it was brighter but i liked it too, i havent tried a nitro with all v30.
I also owned a splawn cab with the gov/man combo but i didnt like it and sold it, i should have went for the sb loaded cab instead.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Thinking back I really haven't used many different speakers over the years. I have always had at least one V30 cab around, and for the last 10 years or so I have been really content to stay that way with the exception of the Gflex cab, which now with the Nitro turns out to be the smoother sounding cab.

I am going to start with the Small Block cab, but I think I might also get an unloaded Splawn cab and start checking some different stuff out.

 

[shreder75]

the BBs sound pretty good with nitro..that's really modern sounding and has a gigantic low end footprint...if you were doing alot of modern downtuned stuff and like a big, beefy, darker sound then they're a good choice...

 

[glpg80]

the BBs sound pretty good with nitro..that's really modern sounding and has a gigantic low end footprint...if you were doing alot of modern downtuned stuff and like a big, beefy, darker sound then they're a good choice...

how do they compare on the top end to small blocks? as much roll off? as defined or mean sounding?

 

[shreder75]

the BBs sound pretty good with nitro..that's really modern sounding and has a gigantic low end footprint...if you were doing alot of modern downtuned stuff and like a big, beefy, darker sound then they're a good choice...

how do they compare on the top end to small blocks? as much roll off? as defined or mean sounding?

it's still angry....they just have more lower mids/bass than the SBs which are more emphasized in the upper mids...probably about as easy an explanation I can come up with..lol..the SBs can still handle assloads of bass because of their wattage...

for me I'll take the SBs all day long cause that's what I dig..I hang out on first gear most times anyway

 

[bubbastain]

I ran my el34 Nitro with a 1960AV cab and it sounded damn good. Then I put 2 small blocks in there in an X pattern and with the exception of the SBs not being as loud as the other two speakers, that was the best sounding combo I have ever heard. SBs are great sounding speakers(with the amps i've had at least) and the only down side for me is the lower efficiency rating(db) that makes them noticeably not as loud as my other speakers.

 

[shreder75]

this may help actually

http://splawnfans.proboards.com/index.c ... hread=2073

a bunch of recordings of the nitro and QR with all different kinds of speakers...it'll give you an idea...these things are a crap shoot sometimes =)

 

[SwampDonkey]

Thanks! That was exactly what I needed!

I like the mix of the SB25 and the BB from those clips, which means my first instinct about mixing the two was a good call.

this may help actually

http://splawnfans.proboards.com/index.c ... hread=2073

a bunch of recordings of the nitro and QR with all different kinds of speakers...it'll give you an idea...these things are a crap shoot sometimes =)

 

[shreder75]

Thanks! That was exactly what I needed!

I like the mix of the SB25 and the BB from those clips, which means my first instinct about mixing the two was a good call.

this may help actually

http://splawnfans.proboards.com/index.c ... hread=2073

a bunch of recordings of the nitro and QR with all different kinds of speakers...it'll give you an idea...these things are a crap shoot sometimes =)

that should be a pretty devastating combination for sure